by Ted Davis
Directed by: Clive Donner
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: Jimmy Brewster (Alan Bates), an ambitious, amoral, and acquisitive real estate agent from the lower classes, will resort to literally any trick or subterfuge to get ahead in life. To help realize his social climbing goals, he picks up cynical and jaded Charlie Prince (Denholm Elliott), who is perennially on his uppers (i.e. broke), but is upper class to the bones, and who tutors Jimmy on the arcane art of snobbish behavior – which helps him win the glossy Ann Horton (Millicent Martin), the boss’s daughter. Within a short period of time, as he rises in station, the student outstrips the teacher, and Charlie becomes an inconvenient and potentially dangerous encumbrance, which presents something of a problem to the outwardly jovial, but inwardly cold-blooded Jimmy.
Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Mrs. March (Pauline Delaney), Jimmy’s man-hungry landlady, has the inevitable cat, in this instance a handsome fluffy white cat with a black spot and tail, which has a sweet meow, and which she often carries about. The cat is first seen when Mrs. March delivers a letter to Jimmy and they have a brief conversation.
When Jimmy takes the letter from Mrs. March, the cat meows. Jimmy lightly brushes the cat’s face with the letter.
Next, the cat is startled when Jimmy drops a heavy trunk which contains the burdensome remains of the recently deceased.
The cat is next seen slumbering comfortably on Mrs. March’s bed, a slumber which is unfortunately disturbed by the pressing romantic performance of Jimmy and the landlady.
The cat escapes the duo by squeezing under the bed.
The cat is last seen carried by Mrs. March as she emerges from the basement.
Final Mewsings: Even the most amiable cat can turn single-minded and ruthless in order to achieve their fondest desire.
Relevant Links:
To discuss this film and other cats in movies and on television, join us on Facebook and Twitter.